Area 51: The Dreamland Chronicles

Area 51, Dreamland, Groom Lake, Paradise Ranch, Watertown Strip, all refer to the top-secret research installation located a hundred miles north of Las Vegas. Built under the direction of the CIA in the 1950s, the base served as the original test site for the U-2 spy plane and F-117 stealth fighter jet. In more recent years, Area 51 has attracted public interest due to its role in the government's $30 billion "Black Budget," claims of worker illness from toxic burning, and sensational allegations about captured alien spacecraft. It has also inspired a subculture eager to uncover its secrets. David Darlington explores the history, people, and stories associated with Area 51, weaving a tale of intrigue that reflects on popular culture and American democracy at the end of the twentieth century.